One Republic talk hits

One Republic has released their latest single for their double platinum effort, "Say (All I Need.)" Many believe the record is their debut. In fact, the band has been struggling for five years.

With one verse of "Apologize," their toiling days were over. Who could forget One Republic's performance with David Archuleta on the finale of "American Idol?"

They have come a long way from the snowy mountains of Colorado.

Eddie Fisher is the drummer for One Republic and has the most unique of perspective on the band's "highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows." After a recent tour stop in the Midwest, Fisher phoned SheKnows and shared an insight into a band that is on the cusp of super stardom.

Their "Apologize" may have been made an enormous hit by its appearance on Timbaland's "Shock Value" CD, but that track had been a One Republic mainstay since their first days in 2003.

Fisher spoke to us about their name, and no it does not come from the Pledge of Allegiance (many make that mistake, including yours truly), and how their fans have helped clarify a typo on their song that introduced them to the world. "Apologize" should read Timbaland presents One Republic. Check your iTunes, it reads 'Timbaland, featuring One Republic.'

No need to Apologize

SheKnows: You guys have been performing for five years, what has been the experience thus far on this tour with some elevated name recognition in the last several months? How have the crowds been different than what you've seen these last couple of years?

Eddie: Shoot, when we started playing, we had twenty, maybe thirty people. (laughs) Now, it's two to five thousand. Even in some places it's more than that. It's amazing. Definitely it's grown. We've been shocked by that and extremely humble3d by it as well.

SheKnows: I can imagine. As you hit this business, that is the goal. To actually be sitting there behind your drums and to see that many people, that's got to be a little surreal.

Eddie: It definitely is..(laughs)…defiantly

SheKnows: The band's name rolls right off the tongue so easily. Does One Republic come from Pledge of Allegiance?

A singular republicEddie: No, actually. There was a rumor that it was, and we kind of went with it. (laughs). No, it's actually 'to the republic, for which it stands, one nation under God.' When you say the Pledge to them the reaction is usually the same. "Yeah, right!" (laughs)

SheKnows: Oh, my God, you are right. (Laughs)

Eddie: So many people think that. It's actually a good thing for people. That we actually thought about that. Kind of makes us look witty. Ryan came up with the name 'Republic' originally. He wanted something strong. He wanted something unifying. Something translated that would translate in all languages as Republic. As we moved forward a couple of years, we were signed to a major label (Interscope) and they were worried about us getting caught with people wanting to sue us for the name. To avoid any future legal problems, we decided to change our name to One Republic.

SheKnows: Well, you're the only one, then, right?

Eddie: Yeah (laughs). We are the only One!

SheKnows: I know you're from LA, how'd you hook up with Zach and Brian who are from Denver, Colorado?

Eddie: I was in Orange County. I had a previous member of the band actually enlighten me on their music. Their drummer had left, they asked me to audition. I'm like, 'yeah, of course!' Totally! They gave me a four- song demo, I auditioned and here I am. I've been busting my butt out with them for four years and I've been very fortunate, the lowest of the lows and the highest of the highs.

SheKnows: Does it seem like four years or is it flying for you?

Eddie: You know, it doesn't seem like it's been four years. I've been doing this for 15 years, real dogging it. Tour buses with bands, I got to say, the four years I've played with these guys have been easy. Lots of different things that you go through life can be trying. I shouldn't say easy. We've had our moments. (Laughs)

SheKnows: It can never be 100 percent easy when you're living out of a suitcase with five other guys in close proximately working your tail off every night.

Eddie: Oh, totally (laughs). Never knowing where you're going, where you're at, even. Not knowing what day or time it is.

SheKnows: That's funny, no matter how many musicians I speak to they always say that that you never know what day it is.

Eddie: You never do, you loose all concept of time. I think what gets it is the constant time changing. Then you go to the UK, you're completely messed up only to go to Australia and then, you're done keeping time, just done!

Tied to Timbaland

SheKnows: No disrespect to Timbaland, but I have to say whenever I write about "Apologize," I get so many letters reminding everyone that that track is 99 percent One Republic and one percent Timbaland. To hear that kind of response from your fans, even though having a hit single is amazing, how does it make you feel that these fans know the real deal.

Eddie: It's amazing because our fans have stuck with us. We've given them release dates for everything we've ever done. The stuff comes out and…well, we've been doing this for four years. "Apologize," we've had "Apologize" for five years. It was one of the first songs the band did. We've had that for a long time. I can totally see how fans would be protective. We are, in a little way. That's our song, don't misprint it.

SheKnows: Right, because it says Timbaland featuring One Republic…

Eddie: Seriously! It was supposed to be Timbaland presenting One Republic, not featuring. It's not featuring us, it is us. (Laughs). Get it right or go home.

SheKnows: That struck me, I know in hip hop circles, 'featuring' is a frequently used phrase.

Eddie: We're definitely grateful to our fans for sticking with us and correcting radio stations with that. I personally want to say thank you to all our fans for that because without that, some people might solely see it as a Timbaland single.

SheKnows: No offense to anyone that is on that record, but I have to say, you're name is the one on Timbaland's record that's sticking with a lot of people.

Eddie: Wow, that's great to hear. Seriously, great to hear, especially since we're technically a debut band.